Cisco Network Engineer Interview Questions

Cisco network engineers are network administrators who develop and maintain networks using products from Cisco. They create and configure networks, troubleshoot issues, and ensure network security.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Cisco Network Engineer or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Cisco Network Engineer position, these Cisco Network Engineer interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Cisco Network Engineer Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Cisco Network Engineer interview questions.

1. Do you have any prior experience as a network engineer?
2. What information do you require from a client before installing a network?
3. What techniques do you use to troubleshoot networking issues?
4. How do you ensure a Cisco network is scalable for future applications?
5. What do you find is the best way to train end-users on Cisco products?
6. Can you talk about your most successful Cisco networking project?
7. What is a link?
8. What is a node?
9. What is a gateway?
10. What is routing?
11. How would you explain an IP address to a layman?
12. What is the purpose of the data link layer in the TCP/IP or OSI layer?
13. What are the key advantages of using switches?
14. When does network congestion occur?
15. What is a ‘Window’ in networking terms?
16. What are the two flags used in the core handshake of a typical TCP connection establishment?
17. What are the features of an IP access list?
18. What is the access-list range for extended IP, extended XNS, and extended VINES?
19. How will you use a linked list to simulate 3 TCP/IP packets?
20. How is a TCP connection made?
21. What is a firewall and what is the security level in an ASA firewall?
22. What is the Cisco default TCP session timeout?
23. Which command enables failover in an ASA firewall?
24. What is a transparent firewall?
25. Which LAN switching method is used in Cisco Catalyst 5000? What are the different memories used in a Cisco router?
26. Explain how cut-through LAN switching works.

Cisco Network Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Cisco Network Engineer interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

1. What is Your Salary Expectation?
2. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
3. Why Do You Want This Job?
4. Why Should We Hire You?
5. What is Your Greatest Strength?
6. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
7. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
8. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
9. Tell Me About Yourself
10. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?